Well-pumping mechanism.



Patented Nov. 22,1910.

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W. T. GRAY.

WELL PUMPING MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1909.

Patented Novfzz, 1910.

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WILLIAM 'I'. GRAY, 0F EL CAMPO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO EL CAMPO MACHINECOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

WELL-PUMPING TEECHANISM.

erases.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, wWIL-Lima T. GRAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at El Campo, in the county of Vharton and State of' Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in fell Pumping Mechanism;and I do hereby declare the following tol be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theartto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to well pumping mechanism of the kind employing arotary pump or runner arranged at the bottom of the well or pit, a lineshaft extending from the center thereof to the surface of the ground fordriving said pump or ruimer, a tubular casing surrounding said shaft andserving as an oil tube for lubricating the same and said runner and adischarge pipe extending from the casing or shell of said runner or pumpproper to the surface of the ground.

' The said invention has for its chief objects to facilitate theremoval, inspection and repair of the bushing or babbitting, to make thevarious parts of the mechanism and structure more easily separable,while increasing their strength, to increase the efficiency of the pump;to provide more effectual means of lubrication; to strengthen andsimplify the structure at the top and bottom of the pit casing and thosenext to the pump-casingg to hold the runner at a fixed point above thebottom providing free inlet to its center from the bottom, to preventall risk of impediment to the discharge and generally to improve thevarious elements of the mechanism and the fixed pit and tubes.

To these ends my invention consists in the construction and combinationof parts hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

Figure 1 represents, in a Well, my pumping apparatus and metallic pit,partly in side elevation, partly in vertical section; Figs. 2, 3 and lrepresent respectively, on a larger scale, the uppermost, lowermost, andmiddle parts of the same, chiefly in vertical section, but showing somefeatures in elevation or broken away. Fig. 5 represents a plan view ofthe lower sect-ion of the pump casing, and of the runner, the latterbeing broken away; Fig. 6 represents a detail crossssection onSpecication of Letters Patent. Patentgd NOV 22, 19190 Application IedNovember 22, 1909.

Serial No. 529,336.

line of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 represents a detail longitudinal section throughone of the couplingsleeves 65 and the inclosed bushing, the pump shaftbeing shown in elevation; Fig. 8 represents a vertical section of saidbushing alone and Fig. 9 represents a top plan view of hub 50, thepump-shaft 38 being sectioned.

The rotary pump, runner or propeller 1 is provided with inwardly anddownwardly inclined vanes 2, which are broadened at their inner ends androunded or convex at their lower corners 8, leavinga downwardly flaring'central passage between them, which connects with a central inlet bore lin the bottom casing-section 5 of the pump casing. This lower sectionsupports the upper section 6, completing said casing and has attached toits bottom an annular plate 7, sometimes known as the suction flange,which is provided with a downward cylindrical extension 8 and acentralbore 9, the latter being' continued from bore 1 and through saidextension. At the junction of the latter with the broader upper part ofsaid suction flange or plate 3, an external annular beveled shoulder 10is formed, fitting the similarly'beveled inner face 11 of the upper endof a tubular cylindrical pedestal 12, whichreceives the lower end ofextension 8 within its upper end and supports the pump-casing and allparts resting thereon, permitting their rot-ation.

13 designates the metallic casing fitted at its upper end withcylindrical pit-head lll and at its lower end with cylindricalpitbottoin 15. The latter has around its inner bore, which receives thelower part of tubular pedestal 12, a downward cylindrical extension 16,which is recessed at the bottom at 17 to fit on an annular outwardextension 18 of the corresponding part of said pedestal. Above thisoutwardextension and recess the contiguous faces of said pedestal andpit-bottom are provided with interlocking lugs 19. These devices 17, 18and 19 hold said pedestal fixed in said pit-bottom, the said bottombeing also fixed in the lower end of the metallic pit-casing. The part16 and the corresponding part of the pit-bottom extend lower than thecasing into the bottom of the well, affording greater space below thepump and also below the pitbottom except at the center, thus lesseningthe upward pressure on said bottom and also preventing clogging. Thebore of said pedestal and said annular plate may, for greatersmoothness, be provided with a tubular lining or inlet tube 20. Thewater flows up through them to t-he inlet bore of said puinp-casing andso to said runner. rlhe latter is held by the aforesaid tubularsupporting and inlet devices 3, 7 and la suliiciently above the earthand sand at the bottom of the well to be in no danger 'of clogging. It'always holds the same position with regard to the bottom of the well andthe pitsbottom. The pit-bottom and pit-head may be bolted to thepit-casing so as to be practically a permanent part of the pit, yetremovable from said casing at need.

Of course some wells are much deeper than others, and comparatively feware shallow enough for only a single length of these parts. Consequentlythey are made in sections, as has been practiced in welltubing for manyyears, these sections being coupled together end to end and of permanentindividual length, also without any telescopic arrangement,extensibility of the joints or other means of extension, except thisvery old and common addition of new sections.

The vanes 2 of the runner 1 are rigid and ordinarily integral with itsinclined lower plate 2l, fitting on the upwardly inclined face of thebowl-shaped interior of the lower section 5 ofthe pump-casing; also withthe upper plate of said runner which is in the form of a broad cone,presented downward and having an upwardly presented journal 24C ofconsiderable diameter, litting rotatably in a hole 25 of upper section 6of said casing, the wall of which hole constitutes the bearing for saidjournal. lThis runner is best manufactured by casting in a single piece;but of course may also be made in separate pieces fastened together, andof wrought metal if preferred.

rlfhe shape of the parts hereinbefore described provides a series ofupwardly inclined, outwardly tapering radial water passages 26. rlhesereceive water from below at the center of the runner where the shape ofthe inner ends of the vanes 2, before described, insures a good inletclearance and copious supply, and discharge it obliquely upward throughtheir narrow outlet ends, with increased velocity as from a series ofnozzles, through a curvilinear slot 27 of upper section (i into a curvedtrumpet-form extension chamber 28 formed in said section, thecross-section of which chamber continually increases from its lesser end29 to its larger end 30, the latter discharging into the lower end of anupwardly liaring tubular pedestal 3l for the outlet pipe or dischargepipe 3Q. The lower part of upper casing-section 6 is flat and offers noimpediment to the flat upper face of the ruimer, rotating below it. Theupper face of said upper section is flat also, excepting the wall of theexpansion chamber, and its central part is in contact with the lower endof the shaft-casing 8l. As the central bore of the latter casing is lessin diameter than bearing-hole Q5 or journal 2st, above mentioned, theinner part of the lower end of said casing overlaps the outer part ofthe upper end of said journal and helps to keep the runner steady in itsrotation. rllhe lower end of the shaft 33, which turns within theshaftcasing to drive the said runner, is provided with a reduced part3st, fitting tightly into the central bore of the runner-journal 24E, itbeing of course essential that said shaft and runner should turntogether. A suitable Babbitt-metal bushing or lining 35 is interposedbetween the lower part of said shaft and the corresponding part of saidshaft-casing. rlhe lower end of said bushing or lining is in contactwith the top of journal 2li. The lower end of the lowest section 84,1 ofsaid shaft-casing Sl is provided with an annular flat external flange orbase 36, more securely bracing the upper runner-casing (j against thestrain of the upwardly discharged water and the action of the rotatingparts and holding said section lirmly in place. The said section 37, onwhich this base 36 is formed, is of greater thickness than the rest ofsaid shaft-casing, except its uppermost section Lllhereinafterdescribed, being' subject to greater strain, and may be considered as apedestal for the shaft-casing proper, it corresponding to pedestal 3l,which may also be regarded as the lowest section of the discharge pipe.Said part 3T is extended above said part 3l, to provide therein spacefor a lateral openingl 38, which receives the peripheral part of anannular external flange or integral collar 39 on the upper end ofpedestal 3l, also the corresponding part of a corresponding collar 40,removably attached to the lower end of the lirst cylindrical section ofthe discharge pipe 32 proper. This opening tits the said lianges, sothat the material of said section 37 at the upper and lower borders ofsaid opening will hold the lflat opposing faces of said collars orflanges in contact with each other. rl`hese collars or flanges in returnhold said section 37 against turning, by their contact with the materialof the latter at the sides of said opening 3S. The collar Ll0 isinternally screw-threaded like a nut, to engage external screw-threadson its section of the discharge pipe 32. lts central part is extendedupward at l1 increasing the length of surface thus engaged and enablingits inner face, which is preferably upwardly and inwardly rounded asshown, to bear against the exterior of shaft-casing section 37. rlheupper end of the said section 37 and the lower end of the shaft-casingsection next above it are externally screw-threaded, so

that they may be drawn and held together by an ordinary internally rightand left screw-threaded coupling collar 42. This fastening is unlikethat (hereinafter explained) between some upper sections of theshaftcasing, as at the second and fourth joints; but is found moreconvenient for attaching the lowest of said sections to pedestal 37 andat alternate section joints above.

The trumpet form curved expansion chamber 28 and the vertical upwardlyflaring tubular pedestal 3l connecting at its bottom with the larger endof said chamber, constitute together a continuous, continually expandingpassage, which permits the water to expand again after its compressionand acceleration in being driven through tapering passages 26 of therotating fan, so that there may be no obstructive eddies or opposinglocal currents from its first entry at the bottom of the inlet pedestal12 to its entry into the cylindrical outlet pipe 31. The latter is ofequal diameter throughout and discharges at the top, by means of agooseneck section 43 obliquely through the pithead 14 and laterallybeyond the same, said pit-head being at or above the surface of theground. Said goose-neck section is integral with said `pit-head and withthe uppermost section 44 of the shaft casing. There is no need to fastenthe lowest cylindrical section of this outlet pipe to the much thickerpedestal or upwardly flaring bottom-section 3l except by the action ofpedestal or lower section 37 of the shaft casing before described, andother devices hereinafter explained, holding in place the severalsections of the discharge pipe and shaft casing.

The pump-shaft 33 consists of as many sections as may be needed, whichare of equal diameter and screw-threaded at their contiguous ends toreceive internally screwthreaded coupling sleeves 45, the sole functionof which is to hold the shaft sections together. It is needful thattheir ends should touch in order that they may brace each other and makethe shaft practically integral, though divisible. The shaft 33 is notlongitudinally extensible or contractible, there being no need for suchprovision, as any difference in the depth of the well may be compensatedfor in the familiar and long practiced way, by adding more sections orunscrewing and removing one or more sections of those already attached.The said shaft is provided with a driving pulley 46, having a sleeve 47,having at its lower end a downwardly extending cylindrical clamping hub50 in two sections clamped together on said shaft by bolts 48 passingthrough holes 49 in said sections. The pump-shaft 33 will turn with saidsleeve and pulley. Normally this hub lits at the lower end into a shortcylindrical bearing box 51, integral shaft.

with goose-neck section 43 of the discharge pipe and opening upward.When there is occasion to raise the pulley, the said bolts are loosenedand the pulley may then be readily slipped up along the shaft. Alongitudinal slot 51 in said sleeve receives a key or projection 52 ofsaid shaft, so that the pulley will be guided when raised and loweredand also that it may have engagement with said shaft at a point abovethe clamping bolts, thus distributing the rotary strain. This key orprojection is preferably removable, so that the pulley may be freed fromthe shaft at will and allowed to turn thereon, without turning saidshaft. Tn effecting this, the said bolts are first loosened and the saidkey or projection is withdrawn, so that there is no longer any kind ofconnection between said sleeve and The pulley and sleeve then turntogether idly under the pull of the belt 53 indicated in dotted lines.This belt of course may extend to, and be driven by, any convenientsource of power.

The upper end of pump-shaft 33 is set in a bearing 54, which has anantifriction Babbitt-metal bushing 55 and is held by a pair of clampingplates 56 on the inwardly presented upper ends of two frame sections 57,which are mainly vertical, but have their upper parts 58 bent towardeach other at right angles and their lower ends singularly bent informing shorter horizontal bases 59 adapted to be fixed on thefiat-pit-head 14, within the space inclosed by its raised peripheral rim76. This leaves an open frame about the pulley, with abundant room forthe belt and for convenient access. The two sections of said frame arebolted independently to said pit-head, facilitating the removal of theupper bearing 54 when this is needed, also the repair or replacing ofone frame section without disturbing the other. Said bearing is in theform of a double conoid and the inner faces of plates 56 are recessedcorrespondingly. ln aifixing th-e said frame its angular position onsaid pithead must of course be arranged to avoid the goose neck.

The hub 50 carries on its lower side a conoidal hard steel ball bearingplate 60 opposing a similar but upward presented bed plate 61 fixed onthe bottom of box 51, conoidal bearing rollers 62 or their equivalentssuch as ball bearings being interposed between said plates. Throughthese bearings and plates and said hub and pulley and box the weight ofsaid shaft rests mainly on said pit-head, and said hub and upper bearingplate turn freely on said bearing rollers in said box. The uppermostsect-ion 44 of the shaft-casing extends rigidly downward from saidbOX,through the goose-neck section before mentioned, the said pit-head,gooseneck, bearing box and this section 44 being preferably cast in onepiece. A bushing or packing 63 is interposed between this casing sectionthroughout its entire length and shaft 33. The lower' end of saidsection is slightly enlarged and internally screwtlireaded at 64 toreceive the correspondingly externally screw-threaded upper end of thenext lower section of the shaft casing 8l. This second section isstraight and of the smaller or normal diameter of the shaft casing,whereas the next casing below it, marked 82, is of greater diameterinternally and externally, the latter enlargement leaving space for abushing hereinafter described. These sections 82 of the larger diameteralternate with the smaller sections 8l throughout the length of thecasing between the uppermost and lowest sections thereof hereindescribed. For simplicity the number 6l indicates the shaft casing as awhole and alsoA those individual alternating sections which are notenlarged or given any special form but left normal. Each of thecylindrical shaft-casing sections 8O and 8l interposed between thissection 4a and the pedestal or lowest section 37 is connected to thenext section SO or 8l by a coupling sleeve 65 which is internallyscrew-threaded at the ends 66 and 67, to receive the similarly threadedends of said sections or by a coupling collar 4t2 as stated. The upperend 66 of each coupling sleeve is enlarged internally and externally,forming an internal annular shoulder 68 just below the screw-threadedpart, for supporting an annular flange 69 on the upper end of a bushing70 of Babbitt-metal into two semicylindrical sections, which may belifted at will independently out of the top of said sleeve. The lowerend of the upper shaft casing section of the pair thus coupled normallyclamps the divided flange 69 against shoulder 68 and holds both sectionsof bushing securely in place; so that said `upper casing' section mustbe unscrewed from coupling sleeve 65, before the bushing or either ofits sections is removable as above. Each sleeve 65 is provided with twolateral integral wings 7l, each of which has a perforation 72, for theends of a strong strap approximately of U-form or staple form adapted tofit around the discharge pipe 32, the said bolt ends of course beingscrew-threaded to receive nuts 73 on the other side of said wings, bywhich nuts it is tightened to draw said pipe casing and discharge pipetoward each other on an intermediate plate or block S3. These twotubular parts are parallel and in close proximity throughout theirlength: and by the means last above described they are clamped togetherat each al-` ternate joint of said casing, so that they will mutuallysupport and brace each other. The section of said discharge pipe nextbelow the goose-neck is provided with an annular external collar orflange 7 5 in contact with, or close juxtaposition to a similar collarla on the lower end of said goose-neck section. rlfhis collar 75 is alsoin lateral contact with the pump-shaft casing. A filling plate 83 isbetween each sleeve 65 and the discharge pipe.

rllhe babbitt bushing 85 and 55 hereinbefore described surrounding thepumpshaft respectively above the fan-casing and just below the pit-headand like bushings 83 within the larger casing sections 8l may also bemade in sections if desired, but this is hardly desirable in the case ofthe upper one and not necessary in the lower one. 0f course theBabbitt-metal bushings 35, 55 and 70 are not liquid proof and do notabsolutely close the shaft casing, but on the contrary are intended topermit the flow of lubricating liquid material down the whole length ofthe pump-shaft and over every part of its surface, also over the runnerl below. Water may also rise along said shaft within said bushing 35when there is any considerable pressure; but no great quantity will thusascend, as the interval between the Babbitt-metal and the shaft isalways slight, though somewhat increased after this bushing becomesworn. l do not find it practically important to absolutely cut o suchupward flow, as the very slight disadvantages resulting therefrom aremore than compensated by the freedom of lubrication by oil in the lowerparts of the mechanism and the Babbitt-metal causes less friction than astufling box or equivalent device for absolute closure. rlhe ends of myshaft sections at all times fit squarely against those of contiguousones throughout its length, bracing each section at each end and makinga strong shaft as a whole.

rEhe operation has been sufficiently explained in describing themechanism and structure. The shaft, being rotated, turns the ruimer,draws water up into the center of the latter and forces it out radiallywith a slight upward inclination, through the gradually enlargingexpansion chamber and pedestal 3l to the discharge pipe 'whence itissues through the goose-neck laterally beyond the pit-head and aboveground. The shaft casing protects the shaft and the Babbitt-metalbushings aid therein, especially at the joints, also reducing friction:but these parts do not inclose the shaft in the sense of cutting offliquid therefrom, both oil and water having access thereto as explained.The shaft casing and discharge pipe extend from top to bottom of thecasing, each outside of the other and side by side and brace and supporteach other by means of the connecting devices stated.

rlhe especial construction of the pit head and the parts cast therewithmakes the upper end of the pit and pumping mechanism very strong andsecure. The same is true of the pit bottom and proximate structure as tothe corresponding lower parts: and also of the upper section of the pumpcasing and the pedestals or lowest sections of said shaft casing andsaid discharge pipe. rlhe runner, pump casing and the two tubularpedestals on the latter are of course easily separated from the otherparts, when above ground by unscrewing the next cylindrical section ofthe discharge pipe and the next thin section of the pump-casingtherefrom. The pump casing pedestal may thereafter be unbolted andremoved and the two sections of the pump-casing maybe separated fromeach other for the removal of the runner or convenient access thereto.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination with a pit bottom, a tubular pedestal extending upthrough the same, a pump-casing supported by the said pedestal andprovided at its bottom with an annular piece fitting into the upper endthereof and a runner turning` in said pumpcasing, the contiguous facesof said pedestal and pit bottom being provided with overlapping andinterlocking parts for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a pit bottom, a tubular pedestal extending upthrough the same, a pump-casing provided with an annular inlet partfitting into the upper end of said pedestal and a runner turning in saidcasing, the said pedestal having the two functions of admitting water tothe interior of said casing and runner and supporting said casing at afixed point of elevation and the said pit and pedestal havinginterlocking and overlapping parts to prevent the independent verticalmovement of either part.

3. In combination with a pit bottom, a tubular pedestal extending upthrough and above the same, an annular piece supported on the upper endof said pedestal, a pumpcasing fixed on said annular piece and a rotaryrunner within said casing, the said elements being adapted to allowwater to flow up centrally through them into the central part of saidrunner and the contiguous faces of said pedestal and said pit-bottombeing provided with overlapping parts fitting into correspondingrecesses substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a pit-bottom, a tubular pedestal extending upthrough the same and provided with projecting parts interlocking withsaid pit-bottom, a pumpcasing supported by said pedestal at a fixedheight above said pit-bottom and having a central inlet, a rotary runnerwithin said casing, a tube distinct from said pedestal extending upthrough it and supplying water centrally to the said runner through saidinlet and means for connecting the upper end of said tube to said pumpcasing and holding it in proper position within said pedestal.

5. In combination with a metallic pit having a cylindrical body and aApit-bottom fixed in the lower end of said body and provided with vacentral opening, a tubular pedestal fitted into said opening andextending above said pit-bottom, a pump-casing supported by saidpedestal at a fixed point above said pit-bottom and a rotary runnerarranged within said pump-casing, the said parts permitting water toflow up through them centrally to the said runner and the said pedestaland pit-bottom being provided with overlapping interlocking parts andserving to support the body of the pit substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with a tubular pedestal, a. pit-bottom provided with acentral opening and a downward tubular extension to receive saidpedestal, the contiguous faces of said pedestal and said extension beingprovided with annular interlocking parts, a pump-casing supported bysaid pedestal and a rotary runner within said pump casing substantiallyas set forth.

7 A rotary runner, in combination with means for holding it always at asingle point of vertical elevation requiring no adjustment, its drivingshaft, a casing for said shaft, a tubular pedestal, a pump-casingcontaining said ruimer and provided at its bottom with an annular piecefitting the upper end of said pedestal, and a pit in which said runner,shaft and casings are located, said pit and the means of support forsaid pumpcasing being provided with interlocking parts.

8. A metallic well-pit provided with a pithead and pit-bottom closingits ends, in combination with a rotary runner, its shaft, bearingstherefor, a shaft-casing and a discharge pipe, the uppermost sections ofsaid pipe and said casing and the box for the upper bearings of saidshaft being all in one piece with said pit head for the purpose setforth.

9. In combination with a rotary runner and its casing, a tubularpedestal for the discharge pipe provided with an annular flange at itsupper end, a cylindrical section of this discharge pipe having acorresponding annular flange arranged to rest thereon and a pedestal orlowest section of the shaft casing having an opening which receives andlits the contiguous parts of said flanges, holding them in contact.

10. A pair of tubular pedestals for support-ing respectively thedischarge pipe and the shaft casing, in combination with a pump casingon which said sections are rigidly mounted, one of said pedestalshavinga laterally proj eating rigid part and the other pedestal beingrecessed to receive said part, thus locking said pedestals together.

1l. A pair of tubular pedestals for supporting` respectively thedischarge pipe and the shaft casing, in combination With a annularlaterally projecting flanges and the other pedestal being recessed toreceive parts of these flanges thus holding them together andinterlocking the said pedestals.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed iny naine to this specification inthe presence of pump-casing on which said pedestals are tivo subscribingWitnesses.

rigidly mounted and a section of said discharge pipe which rests on oneof said pedestals, the contiguous ends of said section and this pedestalbeing provided with W'LLlAM T. GRAY. Witnesses E. H. KOCH,

PHILIP ROLPH.

CII

